(Compiled from the book, "A House with a Heritage" by Michael Kelly, "Albumn of Genealogy and Biography, Cook County, Illinois", and information from the Evanston and Wilmette Historical Societies)
circa 1850
In the "Centennial Jubilee of Northwestern University 1851-1951," the following was written about Alexander and Grosse Pointe: "Grosse Pointe Gulch-Evanstonians are proud of their city and herald its name where ever they go. One of the city's first citizens to show this civic pride was Alexander McDaniel, a pioneer who left Grosse Pointe to join the 1849 gold rush. Because he wanted the folks in the California gold fields to know where he came from, he named one of the first sites he prospected Grosse Pointe Gulch."
During the two years Alexander McDaniel was in California for the Gold Rush, there was a steady correspondence between the Huntoon family and Alexander. These letters give a fascinating picture of the lives of the Huntoon family and their life in Grosse Pointe during the early 1850's.
Dear Wife,
We are incamped three miles west of Hanesville on the Missouri River. We came here last Monday. We are all well and in good spirits.
After I wrote to you near Iowa City, Robbinson turned heart and Jack back without assigning any reason, only that a man was not bound to fulfil and contract (any) farther that his Interest was concerned and he thought that it was to his Interest to turn them back. He tryed the same game with Leander, but he stuck for his rights and Robbinson saw that we was all so much against him that he finally gave him an outfit and he came here with Osra's company. I was so much disgusted with Robbinson's conduct with the boys that I sold out my Interest in the waggon to him and came along with Osra.
Since we have been here, Robbinson's whole Company had broke up and he has sold out everything and says that he is going back.
Leander, Charles and myself have fitted ourselves out with a light wagon, four horses, two mules and every thing necessary for the trip and we are going in company with Osra. We leave here today and go up to the ferry twelve miles and cross the river and Monday move on. I haven't time to give you a description of the country or journey here.
Take good car of yourself and children. Corn is worth $2.50 per bushel, flour $6.00 per hundred and every thing else in proportion. Give my respects to all enquiring friends.
I remain your affectionate husband until death.
A. McDaniel
Hanesville (or Council) Bluffs
10 o'clock at night
Dear Brother (George Huntoon)
I take the present opportunity to fulfill the promise that I made to you when we parted. we are now encamped ten miles east of Fort Laramie on the Platte River. All well and in good spirits. Our comapny consists of myself, Charles Leander and a young man by the name of James Fluent from Chicago, too, one wagon, six horses and two mules. Orso's company consists of the same four that started together, with the addition of one man from the Aplain river by the name of Beauman. They have two mules and eight horses to their wagon.
Our horses are all doing very well yet. We started from Council Bluffs with thirty five bushels of corn which lasted us four hundred miles. We bought an old wagon for thirty two dollars and fifty cents to haul our grain along with, which we cut up for fire wood when we got done with it, as we have just got over a stretch of two hundred miles without a stick of wood, with the exception of our old waggon. As yet, I like the journey very well. my health is first rate. I never felt better.
Everything was very high at Hanesville or Council Bluffs. We paid 65 dollars for a second hand light wagon, worth about 45 dollars in Chicago; corn $2.50 per bushel, oats none, flour $6.50 per hundred, hams 10 cts. per pound, bacon 9 cts., dryed apples $4.50 per bushel. Horses was twenty five percent higher at the Bluffs that they are in Chicago. I paid seventy one dollars for an Indian mule at the Bluffs. I bought (it) of the Indian Agent.
Hanesville is a little mud town tucked in amongst the Council Bluffs, about three miles east of the Missouri River. It is the most miserable looking place that I ever saw, there is but two streets in the whole town and they are as crooked as a rainbow. There were hundreds of people selling out with the intension of going home. The town thronged with Californians. It was impossible to ascertain how many had been there, for nobody knew. I saw Wm. Foster and Moses Patterson. Moses and Asel is one day ahead of us now and farther behind us.
You must excuse my bad writing and mistakes, for I was on watch half the night last night and I can scarcely keep my eyes open and my writing desk is my blankets spread on the gorund in out tent and I am lying down on it and not a very easy way, at that.
You undoublty have seen in the letter that I wrote to Emeline when at Hanesville showing the reason that I did not go through with Robbinson as was anticipated when we left home. Osro is one of the best men to travel with that I ever saw. I haven't heard him grumble or fret a bit since we started, always good natured. I intent writing to Emeline when I get at Fort Laramie. If I don't, tell her that I would like to see her and the children very much. Give my respects to father and mother and all enquiring friends.
June 1st 1850
Last night when I left off writing, I intended to give you a short sketch of my journal on the other side of the sheet and also write to Emeline to day after crossing the Platte River, but after driving on to the river this morning, I found that I shouldn't have time to write to her and finish this letter. So, I thought I would omit my Journal for the presnet and write here what I probably should have written to her, as you will, or course, let her see it.
We crossed the Missouri River Monday morining, May 13th. The ferry man told me that there has been several hundred wagons crossed before us. We found grass tolerable poor in many places. The second day out we saw and quantity of Omaha Indians. They were very friendly, but the greatest beggars that I ever saw. The next we saw was the Pawnees. they were friendly. also, and a much better and nicer, cleaner race of Indians. We passed within two miles of their village. A mountaineer told me that they were about two thousand. We passed the Souix next. They have villages both sides of the river extending for a number of miles. they were friendly, also, and well dressed.
The road the first 200 miles was very good and the ballance not so good. Some very bad sand bluffs. We saw thousands of buffalo and one antelope. As I haven't crossed the river yet, I can'y give any description of it for you.
The fort is about 1 mile from the river. There is now fifty wagons to cross before our turn. We will cross this afternoon. Fifteen hundred waggons passed the fort up to last night. I will write to Emeline the next chance of sending back. Give yourselves no uneasyness about me. Give my respects to all of my relatives and all other enquiring firends.
I remain your brother and friend
A. McDaniel
To George M. Huntoon
Gross Point
Cook County, Illinois
Oct. 11th, 1850
Dear Brother,
This is the second time that I have made the attempt to wirte to you, and I think if I do not write more than ten words in this I will send it with that. We have received three from you and they were all of them worth their weight in Cala. Gold, for they brought intelligence of your good health and spirits. This letter leaves us all in good health. I mean by all, the whole Ridge. It also includes Mrs. Ben and all of the rest of the Grass Widdows. I will give you all the news I can think of, in as few words as possible, for I think before I get through I shall lack for room.
Mrs. Foster and family are all well, and no occurence worth mentioning. Mr. Burroughs and family are all well, and no occurence etc. I mean by Mr. Burroughs and family the entire family of Burroughses. Charlie Crain's family are well, and no etc. Mr Fox has sold his place to Andrew Robinson; price nine hundred dollars. Fox lives in Chicago. Robinson's family are all well and no occurence etc. Bennett and his family are all alive but not in good health, most of them have been sick. No other occurence worth mentioning.
Dunlap has moved in with the old man Munn. Otis has gone to Michigan with the Shermans. Paul Pratt's family are all well. L.T.C.'s wife has one more to support since he left, a girl, all well. She lost her cow last spring. William and his family are all well and nothing more about them. Mrs. Pratt and her family are all well. About four or five weeks since she had a trunk full of cloths and about 250 Dollars in money was stolen out of her house in the bed. About one week since her trunk was found, and most of her things, except the money.
Father's folks and all in the house are well. Your wife and children are all well and I think I can say are in good spirits. Webley's family are all well. Hazard's family are all well. Ben's family are all well. Orson Crain's wife has buried two of her children since her left, which he probably has heard of before this. The last she lost was one that has been sick for a long time. The rest of the family I think are well. I do not hear from them or see them as often as the rest. They live in Chicago
I have nothing in particular to say about Carney or his family, except that he had a lawsuit today with E.G. Hill. How it terminated I am not able to say. E.G. H. was the plaintiff and Carney was Dft. Hill's family are all well. the Widdow Hill and her two sisters have gone to Spirngfield to reside, in this State. Old Eli has made his fortune in Cala. and is content; he has bought Dr. Clark's land and is making improvements. I have heard that he came back with Two Thousand, and Henry the same. His family are all well.
Isaac Burrogh's wife has got a son, and so have Capt's wife, and so has George Reed's wife, and so has the Docotor's wife, that is C. Willson. Ann has gone to Iowa City. Stebbins has moved to Iowa City and I hear are doing well. Charles Miller resign the office of Higway Commiss'r and John Anderson had been appointed in his place, and they have straightened the road on the Ridge to suit themselves, and it has been done in such a way that A. McDaniel's East line is from 13 to 17 feet west of the road "entirely" as the Irishman says.
Crops are good as usual; hay has got up in good order generally and a fair quantity of it. The Cholera has prevailed to some extent in Chicago the past summer and some I can name have died of it. Doct. Stewart, Doct. Wentworth, Francis How formely a clerk in the bank; W.L. Whiting Forward. Merchant, and John Murphy of the United States Hotel, is all I think of at present.
The three letters I mentioned received from you were directed to me written at Council Bluffs, or now I think of it the second one I think was Fort Laramie; the other two were directed to Emeline, one written at Salt Lake City dated June25th and received Oct 8th and one written at Georgetown in Cala. dated August 1st and received Oct 1st, so you can see what irreguarities there are in the mails. In this I have endeavoured to give all of the news that I thought would interest you and those that are with you, for I expect you will show it to all that feel interested in anything that I have written.
I will leave a part of this page for Emeline to fill up is she thinks proper, and if not I will fill it myself, so the benifit of O.A. Crain, that E.G. Hill had a letter a few days since from Olivia. She is well and all of her folks. They have had a letter from Smith; he is in Cala., but they have had no intelligence of Frank. Waive all compliments, and accept this from one that hopes to see all that left this Place return with full pockets and a contented mind.
Geo. M. Huntoon
To A. McDaniel, and all the rest of the B'hoys
Saturday evening Oct. 12th
Emeline was here today and I think I had better finish this letter myself and she will write next week. She bought a load of Pumpkins of Jacob on Father's place and I am to take them to her in the morning, and then we are agoing onto the Gage lot to look after the wood, and if the roads are good I think I shall draw some of it out. The prospect however is rather dull for wood this fall, as there is an abundance of it in Chicago.
There are other things that I would like to say to you but must wait until another time. I want you should write me all of the particualrs about that Place and its porspects as I think of starting for that place about the first of February next, by water, and I think I shall be able to place confidence in what you say about it. Give some of the particualrs of yor own success in the Gold digging business. Give my respects to all of the boys and take a full share of yourself.
Yours etc.,
G.M. Huntoon
January 5th, 1851
Dear Brother,
We have just received your letter of October 13th, 1850. We have written some 5 or 6 letters to you before this, but I see in your letter you complain of not having received any from us. I hope you may prosper and get a nice pile before you come back. I will give you all the news that I think will be interesting, commencing with your own family--
Emeline has had her health good and, I think I may say, is in good spirits. She has sold the wood on the Gage lot at 15 shillings per cord on the ground. She has made the payment on the lot, and all that is straight; is now paying Hugh Maher the 25 Doll's that you borrowed before you left. She is paying him in hoop poles from off the Thatcher lot, cut by Gardner Stearns. I think I can say that all goes on like clock work. I will not write in this what I wrote to you in my last, for I think you may get (it); if you should not, however, there is nothing in it of importance more that the common occurences of the day. Your children are all well and thriving. Father is not at present in good health, but we hope there is nothing serious in his case. His family are all well.
The Calafornia widdows are all well, and their families. Mrs. Webley has not heard from her husband since he left the frontier. Azel Patterson has not returned and probably never will if all accounts are true. We have heard that he died of consumption at Panama on his way home, and we think that the information must be correct or he would have been here before this. We have heard nothing, any money or letter by him and I think we never shall. There is a report here that he left Six Hundred Dollars with some one to be sent to his wife; how true it is we cannot say. I intend to make diligent efforts to find out the truth of it.
E.G. Hill lost his wife on the 27th of last month. She died in child bed. Otis Munn jr. lost his child on the 26th of last month, of Dropsey on the brain. The winter so far here has been rather light, with very little snow, but excellent wheeling, so that business has been brisk and wood hauling pretty good.
Bub, I want a small share in that place called Calafornia and I will tell you how I want it. Please hire a man for me five days, and set him to diggin where you think he can do well, and board him and I will pay you what you have to pay for his labour and board, and whatever he gets in the five days I will be content with, and I will if you ask it pay you for your trouble, and call it my Lottery Ticket in Calafornia. I think I'm good for what I have said here, and will pay you all it costs if I don't get one cent by it. Please see to it that I may try my luck.
Doctor Foster has seen and read your letter and was much pleased to hear that you was doing well. Give my respects to the boys, and tell them if they should happen to itch in any particular spot when they are diggin, to stick their spade down on the side and they will make a big haul. Hazzard has written home that he is doing well, and says he will send his wife some money. Capt. Crain has written home and sent wife 25 dollars by a Mr. Vanhorn, which she has got. If you should see Mr. Webley tell him his family are all well but in low circumstances and should have some help.
Charles' family are all well. I have just heard that James Mulford has broke down and all of his property is in Edw'ds hands; that is nothing strange nor new. William L. Church is our Sheriff in Cook Co., and Simon Doyle that used to live in Gross Point is his Deputy. Robinson is hauling wood for a living and says not much about Calafornia. Fox has moved into Chicago. Stebbins has gone to Iowa and Johnson's house stands empty. Old Cris, lives to drink whiskey and so does the old Major.
Times on the Ridge are about as they used to was. Burroughs is Post Master and Munn is Poormaster. David Hood is Pound Master and Johnson is-------
Jany 14th. I have delayed the finishing of this letter for the purpose of making inquiries about Azel Patterson. His wife thinks there is no truth in the story, but cannot say. Gardner Stearns left here yesterday to visit his parents down some east and to return in about one and a half months.
We are in the enjoyment of a fine January thaw at present. The slews are mostly broke up, and the weather today has been as fine as a May day and looked more like Spring than Winter. Since I first commenced this letter Philip Dean, formerly of Chicago, has arrived here from Calafornia; what news he brought I am not able to say. I do not know of anyone in this place that intends leaving for Cala. in the Spring.
I shall close this imperfect scroll by saying, give my best respect to all the boys, and take a large Portion for yourself; tell all the Boys from this Place that their famillies are all well, or I should have mentioned it. No more at Present. Adios.
Yours in Haste,
Geo. M. Huntoon
To A. McDaniel, Esq. Calafornia
A. McDaniel, Colomo, California
Nov, 18th 1852
Dear Brother,
I owe you an apology for not writing to you before this, but before I shall close this sheet, you will perhaps see the excuse I had for not writing before. We are all in pretty good health and spirits. I hope these lines may find you all in the enjoyment of like blessings. I have received but one letter from home since our arrival in Cala. and that one was from my wife, dated June 20, in which she stated that you and James Baker had both written to me. I have not seen them. if you would have me get letters, direct them to Marysville, Cala.
Since we arrived in this place, we have done as well as we could expect to under the circumstances. we have had but very little water until within a week past. and for a week for more, we have had nothing but rain and snow, day and night. we are encouraged to think that as soon as the weather shall settle, we can do better that we have done. When there is sufficient quantity of water, the mines here are worked with sluices and gold is taken out with them as safely and with greater facility that with the tom. I think before you get this sheet, Frank Goodbody will have arrived at home, and if you will spend an hour or two with him, you will get more information concerning the mines in this place and the mode of working them that I could give you on a whole sheet. Try it.
I wrote a letter to my wife and sent by Frank Goodbody, which I expect she has gotten by this time, and 10 oz. of clean dust that I sent with it. Since that time, we have abid in our winter's stock of provisions, which consists of 700 lbs. flour $21 per hundred, 100 pork $31 per 100, 1/2 bbl. salmon $18, 108 lbs. sugar $13, 107 lbs. ham $32, 475 lbs.potatoes $6, 106 lbs. onions $12, and other small articles (a unit of 20)-hundred and fifty five pounds. we paid $7 per hundred freight on it from Marysville to this place on wagons, 85 miles altogether. Our provisions and freight have cost us five hundred dollars.
We have good claims that will pay even from the top to the bed rock, from 2 to 3 cts. to the bucket. Others, perhaps, would not work such ground, but would spend their time and money looking for something better. But we are content to let well enough alone. The diggings here are new and not much prospected and we have ground enough to keep us at work for two or three years or longer if we should think of staying here. It is impossible to say how long it will take us to make our piles. But, I think some of us may, if we all have our health, be at home about this time next year.
I hope you will answer this as soon as you get it and let me know all the little particulars that you can gather from one end of the Ridge to the other, as they will be quite interesting to us, you know.
Last week I was at Downieville on the North Yuba, twenty eight miles from this place, and I saw a man by the name of Graham that has been aquainted with Secret Glen Cove, he called it, and he told me it had all been worked out this last season. I have, therefore, given up all hopes of even seeing it as long as I can get moderate wages where I am. The only work I have done since I came to this place had been with a cradle and the best earth I have found was 32 buckets $10.50.
A few days after Frank left us, I got a letter by express mailed at Sacramento City and directed to George Huntoon, and what to make of it, I cannot say. I will copy it entire below and let you see for yourself if it was not enough to astonish anyone:
Sept. 10
Dear Brother,
I take this time to write a few lines to you, not knowing whether you will get it or not. I will not write much. I arrived here August 29th. I received a letter from home before I left the States. Started for Calafornia. I am now about 30 miles above Sacramento on South Fork of the American River, about four miles above Mormon Island, to work at McDowel Company at six dollars per day. The wages will get better in a few days. If you get this letter, write to me. Direct your letter to Sacramento and I will get it from there by express. I was to Devon Springs and Hamblin. George has gone, however.
William Huntoon To George Huntoon
I sent an answer to the above letter as soon as I got it, but have heard nothing from it since, and if you can solve the mystery for me, please do it as soon (End of Alexander McD's letter to George Huntoon).
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